What better place to cross paths with the love of your life than at a place already filled with so much love? Samira and Oluwatobi’s journey traces back to their mutual friend’s wedding — she was the chief bridesmaid and he, the groomsman.
Even though they didn’t know it then, the seed of love that would soon blossom had already been planted. Unknown to Samira, a surprise visit to her newlywed best friend four years ago would make her path cross with Oluwatobi once again. From that moment, sparks flew and a whirlwind of romance followed.
Now, it’s love in the air for these sweethearts as they embark on a beautiful journey of forever. They exchanged their vows in an intimate white wedding ceremony that was nothing short of magical. They also had a lit Yoruba trad that was a fine blend of love, colours and culture. They look so perfect together, and their wedding photos will make your day.
Enjoy their wedding photos and love story below:
How we met
By the bride, Samira:
Some love stories are written in grand gestures. Ours? It unfolded in moments undeniably meant to be. In September 2021, a girls’ trip to Lagos, a surprise visit to my newlywed best friend, turned into an unexpected twist of fate. The kind of night that begins with laughter and ends with memories. Tobi wasn’t a stranger, just someone I had never really seen before. He was a groomsman at my best friend’s wedding a few months prior, where I happened to be chief bridesmaid. And even though our paths crossed, it never really collided.
The music was good. The energy, even better. I danced my heart out like no one was watching, but he was. A simple hello, A bottle of champagne, an invitation to dance. The conversations just easy, effortless chemistry. The next evening, he invited me to dinner. From that moment on, the conversations never stopped. No grand epiphany, no dramatic realisation, just a quiet knowing: this is it, this is home, this is forever. We moved through life together, travelling, exploring, and immersing ourselves in experiences that made us feel alive. And in December 2024, he asked to make this “forever.” My most heartfelt YES. Ours is a love rooted in deep connection, in values so perfectly aligned that choosing each other felt like second nature.
Samira and Oluwatobi also had a Yoruba traditional wedding and here’s how it went:
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/montreal-street-during-the-holidays.jpg?id=55410843&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C228%2C0%2C229"/><br/><br/><p>The new year is right around the corner, and with it comes all the early closures and holiday hours that could derail your plans in Montreal. </p><p>Whether you're figuring out New Year's Eve hours for last-minute errands, wondering what's open on New Year's Day in Montreal for a supply run, or just looking for <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/things-to-do/" target="_blank">things to do in Montreal</a> over the holidays, planning ahead is key.</p><p>New Year's Day — January 1, 2025 — lands on a Wednesday this year, and it's a federal and statutory holiday across Canada, meaning most places in Montreal will be closed for the day. But don't stress! A handful of grocery stores, shops and attractions will still be open to help you out, and we dug around to find all of them so you don't have to.</p><p>Meanwhile, New Year's Eve isn't an official holiday, but lots of spots around Montreal are shutting their doors early. We've rounded up all the details on shortened hours to make sure you're not left scrambling while stocking up for your get-together.</p><p>From grocery and liquor stores to malls, public transit, government services and attractions, here's everything you need to know about what's open and closed — or closing early — in Montreal on December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025, including info on the SAQ, Maxi, IGA, the STM, Services Québec and more.</p><h3>Grocery stores</h3><br/><p><strong>December 31 (New Year's Eve):</strong></p><ul><li>Costco: All locations across Greater Montreal will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.</li><li>Provigo & Maxi: Most Provigo locations will close early at 5 p.m. Maxi's holiday hours are not posted on its website, but they are likely to be similar to its sister company's hours.</li><li>Metro & Super C: Most locations will be open until 5 p.m. You can check the <a href="https://www.metro.ca/en/find-a-grocery" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Metro</a> and <a href="https://www.superc.ca/en/find-a-grocery/holiday-hours" target="_blank">Super C</a> websites for your local store's hours.</li><li>IGA: Most locations will be open until 5 p.m. You can check the <a href="https://www.iga.net/en/find_a_store" target="_blank">IGA website</a> for your local store's hours.</li><li>Walmart: All locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.</li><li>Public markets: Atwater, Jean-Talon and Maisonneuve markets will be open until 5 p.m.</li></ul><p><strong>January 1 (New Year's Day): </strong>Most major grocery chains will be closed on New Year's Day. However, here are a few places you can go if you need something on the holiday:</p><ul><li>Provigo at 1275, av. des Canadiens de Montréal will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.</li><li>Pharmacies: Many pharmacies, especially larger chains like Pharmaprix and Jean Coutu, will be open with reduced hours on New Year's Day. Holiday hours are often not posted on the website, so it's a good idea to call your local store before heading out.</li><li>Depanneurs: Many depanneurs and corner stores in Montreal stay open on New Year's Day for last-minute essentials. You may want to call your local store to confirm their hours.</li><li>Aisle 24: All <a href="https://aisle24.ca/location/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">locations</a> of this cashierless grocery chain are open 24/7, all year round. You'll just need to download the app and create a profile in order to unlock the door.</li></ul><h3>Liquor stores</h3><br/><p>Most SAQ locations will close early at 5 p.m. on December 31 and reopen at 1 p.m. on January 2. While the SAQ isn't open on New Year's Day, many depanneurs will be open, selling beer and wine.</p><h3>Shopping malls</h3><br/><p>Most major shopping centres in Greater Montreal — including Galeries d'Anjou, Place Versailles and more — will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 31 and closed on January 1.</p><h3>Services</h3><br/><p>
<strong>STM: </strong> On the night of December 31 to January 1, the STM will extend its hours of operation on lines 1 (Green), 2 (Orange) and 4 (Yellow), with service running until at least 2:30 a.m. on all three lines. Last-train times will vary by station, and you can find them all on the <a href="https://www.stm.info/en/offers-and-outings/events/december-31-stay-later" target="_blank">STM's website here</a>. Line 5 (Blue) will run on its usual weekday schedule.</p><p>
<strong>Canada Post:</strong> Canada Post is closed on national, provincial and territorial <a href="https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/kb/sending/general-information/find-out-operating-hours-on-holidays" target="_blank">holidays</a>. That means there is no collection or delivery of mail happening on New Year's Day.</p><p>
<strong>Banks:</strong> All banks are closed on New Year's Day.
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<span></span><strong>Service Canada:</strong> Closed on New Year's Day.
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<strong>Services Québec:</strong> Closed December 31 to January 2, inclusive.</p><h3>Things to do</h3><br/><p><strong>Public markets:</strong> Place Jacques-Cartier Market will be open on December 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. and on January 1 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Mont-Royal Neighbourhood Market will also be open both days from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Atwater, Jean-Talon and Maisonneuve markets will be open until 5 p.m. on December 31, but closed on January 1 and 2.</p><p><strong>Espace pour la vie museums:</strong> All five properties will be open both days, with some modified hours. The Biodome, Biosphere, Insectarium and Planetarium will be open on January 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. The Planetarium will be open on December 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the other three will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Botanical Garden's outdoor spaces are open every day during the holidays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.</p><p><strong>Skating rinks:</strong> The Bleu Blanc Bouge rinks at <a href="https://montreal.ca/en/places/bleu-blanc-bouge-rink-cdn-ndg#section-horaire" target="_blank">Parc de la Confédération</a> (CDN-NDG), <a href="https://montreal.ca/en/places/parc-le-carignan-bleu-blanc-bouge-skating-rink#HRS1" target="_blank">Parc Le Carignan</a> and <a href="https://montreal.ca/en/places/parc-willibrord-bleu-blanc-bouge-outdoor-skating-rink#:~:text=Check%20the%20Weekly%20schedule" target="_blank">Parc Willibrord</a> (Verdun) will be open both days with varying schedules. The Old Port skating rink will also be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. all throughout the holidays.</p><p><strong>Cinemas:</strong> Most cinemas, especially larger chains like Cineplex, are open all throughout the holidays, including New Year's Day.</p><p><strong>Igloofest NYE:</strong> From 8 p.m. December 31 to 2 a.m. January 1, Igloofest is putting on a <a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/igloo-new-year-eve-nye-montreal" target="_blank">free outdoor show</a> at Quai Jacques-Cartier in the Old Port. There will be eight artists performing, and it's the perfect spot to catch the fireworks and ring in 2025 in style!</p><p class="">Happy New Year, Montreal!</p>
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